I am looking to purchase a boat this spring. I will be runing it on a lake for 80% of the time and the bay down at the jersey shore 20%. I have always herd great things about cats and I have the need for speed but I am woried about the ride and comfort. My wife says she does not care either way so I got aproval from the boss. I am looking at a 32 fountain with twin 502mpi's boat is a 2000 fresh water boat with 66 hours a perfect 10. Then I found a 1999 28 daytona twin hp 500 carbs, mint as well. They are priced the same. I just dont know about a sit down boat vs a full stand up boat. I know the cat will be much faster. I am told a solid 100+ boat vs 78+ so speed is a no brainer but the feel and ride is what I am woried about. Also my wife wants to be lay out in the sun & the fountain has a big sun pad the daytona looks like the engine hatch is not real for laying on. Any way Can you guys help me make up my Mind. Thanks

NJ Dave
I went through the same thing a few years back only on a smaller scale.To make a long story short we purchased a 25 Daytona. The ride is very good,smooth.We only boat on inland lakes been on Lake Erie acouple times. We will only ever have a cat .But thats us . You deffinately have to ride in both in conditions that you will use it in.

Thanks for your input. I am going to see the Eliminator next week end & the owner is taking my wife & I for a 100+ MPH ride so I will have a good Idea of what the boat feels like. I can say that as of now I am leaning in the direction of the Eliminator for the speed, looks, and soon to see the ride. I will post my experience after my ride. Thanks

I have a 25 daytona as well and love it. The engine hatch is not flat so the women throw a towel on the bow and lay up there,they seem to be happy.I like the bigger cabin in the 28 your looking at. Good luck. If you are in phoenix and want a ride in a 25 pm me, I would be happy to take you out.

I have a 28 Daytona and the sun pad is pretty big if it doesn't have the scoops. I have scoops so we lay out front to back or put our heads and feet on the scoops very gently.

The tall deck 28, which I think is all they made in 99 will run solid 95 - 97 with 500s.

Thanks guys for all feed back. It is a tall deck with the scoops on the engine hatch but my wife is tiny 5'2 and 95 lbs. so she should have no problem lying on the sun pad in between the scoops. Do you guys have any suggestions of what to look for on this boat that would be something out of the ordinary for eliminator Daytona’s? Some thing besides the obvious. Do you know of any inherent problems with this specific model and year I should look for? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am getting pretty excited to see the boat and as each day goes by I think my mind is made up to go with this boat. I will bring a digital camcorder to take a video and pics.

I forgot to mention thay I called Eliminator boats and spoke to a factory sales rep. He said that a 28 tall deck with twin 500hps should run a solid 103-105 with 2 people and 1/2 tank of fuel. Any one know from experience if he is correct ?

Mine (00 28' TD) ran a best of 98 last season with me and 2/3 fuel on 85 degree day, choppy lake. 500EFI's. 28's need a lot of trim to make them fly so slip goes to 15% on mine. Putting on boxes in a few weeks so that should help a lot. Eliminator puts their drives in everywhere, from a height and seperation standpoint so there can be a few mph variance between them from that alone. My drives are even with the bottom of the boat. 103-105 is a stretch IMO without boxes, (unless set-up perfect and cool day) but it should run high 90's every day.

Thanks JD. I do not know if this boat has extension boxes but I will find out next week end. It has 500hp carbs also so I don’t know if they are weaker than the EFI versions. The owner told me it has 1:36 gears in the drives and it is swinging 30" bravo 4 blades & it bumps the rev limiter. I don’t know if that equates to any specific speed but I will find out next week end & post my experience & hopefully be the proud new owner.
Thanks again

Don't know where the limiters are on 500HP's. But mine are 5300 with 1.36 gear and 30 bravos it runs 95...and all over the limiters. I ran 98 with labbed 33 bravos, which are too much prop.